RANK #714 / 1001 NAT · #22 / 33 TN · POP 376,192
1YR FORECAST: -1.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +25%
Hamilton County, Tennessee, is often recognized for Chattanooga, its largest city and county seat, which sits along the Tennessee River. The county is located in the southern part of East Tennessee, bordering Georgia, and offers a mix of urban, suburban, rural, and mountain communities. Commutes to Chattanooga from surrounding towns like Soddy-Daisy typically range from 17 to 25 minutes. The area is known for its outdoor recreation, with attractions like Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls, and the Tennessee Riverpark providing opportunities for hiking, water activities, and scenic views. Hamilton County Parks and Recreation manages a network of parks and green spaces, offering various recreational programs.
Life in Hamilton County offers diverse community options, from the suburban feel of Ooltewah with its schools and parks, to the historic charm of St. Elmo at the foot of Lookout Mountain. Hamilton County Schools serves over 44,000 students across urban, suburban, and rural communities. The economy sees investment in data centers and industrial/logistics sectors. Downtown Chattanooga has experienced revitalization, with growth in hospitality, residential, and commercial areas. Efforts are also underway to support local entrepreneurship through initiatives like the Small Business Resource Center.
Hamilton County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices -0.1% YoY, population +1.4%, wages +4.9%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.7x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Urban Story Ventures Data Center (Jailhouse Studios project)
Urban Story Ventures (in partnership with Oracle)
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
North River Commerce Park Development
Undisclosed (supported by TIF)
|
$100M | Under Construction |
|
Kordsa Chattanooga Facility Expansion
Kordsa Inc.
|
$50M | Completed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 28/100, Hamilton County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $76,183 combined with job growth of -0.7% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Hamilton County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $312,800 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.24 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,253/month on average.
Hamilton County's population is growing — up +1.4% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.7%). Home values shifted -0.1% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
Not particularly — 1.86% of Hamilton County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.